Air Canada extends flight cancellations as strike action continues

By Canadian Press on August 18, 2025.

TORONTO — Air Canada says all flights of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge remain suspended through 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday as members of the union representing its flight attendants continue strike action.

It says customers whose flights are cancelled will be notified.

Flight attendants were supposed to stop striking Monday after the Canada Industrial Relations Board ruled the labour action unlawful, coming after the federal government over the weekend forced the two sides into binding arbitration.

But CUPE national president Mark Hancock says the union will press on because it is fighting not just for flight attendants but for the right to the collective bargaining process.

Flight attendants went on strike early Saturday morning after talks broke down and the two sides failed to reach a deal on Friday.

Air Canada estimated Monday that some 500,000 customers’ flights have been cancelled since the strike began.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2025.

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Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press